IBPS Recruitment 2026 – Apply Online for PO, Clerk, RRB, SO Posts

The Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has announced its comprehensive recruitment calendar for 2026, offering lucrative career opportunities across multiple public sector banking positions. The IBPS Recruitment 2026 cycle includes Probationary Officers (PO), Clerical Cadre, Regional Rural Banks (RRB), and Specialist Officers (SO) positions across participating public sector banks. With over 5,000 expected vacancies for IBPS PO 2026 alone, this recruitment drive presents significant employment prospects for graduate candidates seeking stable banking careers. The selection process follows a structured three-tier system comprising preliminary examinations, mains examinations, and personal interviews for officer-level posts.

Recruitment Highlights

Vacancy Details

IBPS PO 2026 (CRP PO/MT-XVI)

The IBPS PO 2026 recruitment drive is expected to announce approximately 5,000+ vacancies for Probationary Officer positions across 11 participating public sector banks. These vacancies represent the largest officer-level recruitment in the banking sector for 2026. The exact bank-wise vacancy distribution will be detailed in the official notification released in June–July 2026.

IBPS Clerk 2026

The IBPS Clerk 2026 examination will be conducted for clerical cadre positions across participating banks. While the exact number of vacancies remains to be announced, the annual recruitment typically offers substantial opportunities based on bank requirements and retirements. Candidates should expect a significant number of openings across rural and urban branches.

IBPS RRB 2026

The IBPS RRB Recruitment 2026 will fill positions in Regional Rural Banks across Officer Scale I, II, III, and Office Assistant cadres. Vacancies will be announced for various rural banking institutions, with posts distributed across different states and union territories based on regional requirements.

IBPS SO 2026

The IBPS SO 2026 recruitment will target specialized positions including:

• IT Officer: For technology and digital banking initiatives

• Marketing Officer: For business development and promotional activities

• Law Officer: For legal compliance and banking regulations

• HR/Personnel Officer: For human resource management

• Agricultural Field Officer: For agricultural lending and rural development

Vacancy numbers for specialist positions will be announced post-notification based on specific bank requirements.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

IBPS PO 2026: Candidates must possess a Graduate Degree in any discipline from a university recognized by the Government of India or equivalent qualification recognized by the Central Government. The degree must be completed by the date of application registration.

IBPS Clerk 2026: A Graduate Degree in any discipline from a recognized university is mandatory. Operating and working knowledge of computer systems is essential, including certificate/diploma/degree in computer operations or having studied computer/information technology as a subject in high school or college.

IBPS RRB 2026:

• Office Assistant: Graduate degree in any discipline

• Officer Scale I: Graduate degree in any discipline

• Officer Scale II & III: Graduate degree with relevant experience and specialization as per post requirements

IBPS SO 2026: Graduate/Post-Graduate degree in the relevant specialized field from a recognized university. Specific educational requirements vary by specialist post and will be detailed in the official notification.

Age Limit

IBPS PO 2026: Minimum 20 years and Maximum 30 years as of the cut-off date specified in the notification. Candidates must have been born between the specified dates to be eligible.

IBPS Clerk 2026: Minimum 20 years and Maximum 28 years. Age relaxation provisions apply as per government norms.

IBPS RRB 2026:

• Office Assistant: 18–28 years

• Officer Scale I: 18–30 years

• Officer Scale II: 21–32 years

• Officer Scale III: 21–40 years

IBPS SO 2026: 20–30 years for most posts, with variations for certain specialist positions requiring higher experience levels.

Age Relaxation

• SC/ST: 5 years relaxation

• OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 3 years relaxation

• PWD: 10 years relaxation (General), 13 years (OBC), 15 years (SC/ST)

• Ex-Servicemen: As per government guidelines

• Persons affected by 1984 riots: 5 years relaxation

Experience Requirements

IBPS PO 2026: No prior banking experience required. Fresh graduates can apply.

IBPS Clerk 2026: No experience required. Entry-level positions.

IBPS RRB 2026:

• Office Assistant & Officer Scale I: No experience required

• Officer Scale II & III: Minimum 2-5 years of relevant banking/financial sector experience required

IBPS SO 2026: Prior work experience in the relevant specialist field is preferred but not mandatory for all posts. Specific experience requirements will be detailed in the official notification.

Salary Structure

IBPS PO 2026 Salary

Probationary Officers receive a starting basic pay of ₹36,000 per month (Scale I) with additional allowances including Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Special Allowance, and City Compensatory Allowance where applicable. The total monthly CTC ranges between ₹52,000–55,000 depending on the posting location. Additional benefits include medical insurance, pension schemes, leave travel concession, and performance-linked incentives.

IBPS Clerk 2026 Salary

Clerical cadre employees start with a basic pay of ₹19,900 per month with applicable allowances. The total monthly in-hand salary ranges between ₹28,000–30,000 based on location and allowances. Clerks are also eligible for annual increments, medical benefits, and retirement benefits as per bank policies.

IBPS RRB 2026 Salary

• Officer Scale I: Basic pay starting at ₹36,000 with total CTC of ₹48,000–50,000 per month

• Office Assistant: Basic pay starting at ₹14,500 with total CTC of ₹26,000–28,000 per month

• Officer Scale II & III: Higher pay scales with additional benefits based on experience and responsibilities

IBPS SO 2026 Salary

Specialist Officers receive specialized pay scales based on their domain expertise. Starting basic pay ranges from ₹36,000 to ₹48,000 depending on the post and scale, with total monthly CTC between ₹52,000–65,000. Specialist posts often include additional technical allowances and faster career progression tracks.

Selection Process

IBPS PO 2026 Selection Process

The IBPS PO 2026 selection follows a three-stage process:

Stage 1: Preliminary Examination

• Objective-type questions covering English Language, Quantitative Aptitude, and Reasoning Ability

• Total marks: 100 (20 minutes per section)

• Negative marking: 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer

• Qualifying in nature; scores not counted for final merit

Stage 2: Mains Examination

• Objective and descriptive sections

• Covers Reasoning & Computer Aptitude, General/Economy/Banking Awareness, English Language, Data Analysis & Interpretation

• Descriptive test: Letter and Essay writing (English language)

• Total marks: 225 (objective) + 25 (descriptive)

• Negative marking: 0.25 marks per wrong answer in objective sections

Stage 3: Interview

• Conducted by participating banks in coordination with IBPS

• Total marks: 100

• Minimum qualifying marks: 40% (General), 35% (SC/ST/OBC/PWD)

• Final merit list prepared based on mains and interview scores (80:20 weightage)

IBPS Clerk 2026 Selection Process

Two-stage process:

Preliminary Examination: English Language, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning Ability (100 marks, 60 minutes). Qualifying in nature.

Mains Examination: General/Financial Awareness, General English, Reasoning Ability & Computer Aptitude, Quantitative Aptitude (200 marks, 160 minutes). Final selection based on mains scores, with provisional allotment based on merit-cum-preference.

IBPS RRB 2026 Selection Process

Office Assistant: Prelims → Mains (two-tier process)
Officer Scale I: Prelims → Mains → Interview (three-tier process)
Officer Scale II & III: Single-level examination → Interview

IBPS SO 2026 Selection Process

Stage 1: Preliminary Examination: Post-specific professional knowledge test along with reasoning and English language sections.

Stage 2: Mains Examination: Professional knowledge test in the respective specialist domain.

Stage 3: Interview: Professional interview focusing on domain expertise. Final selection based on combined mains and interview scores.

Important Dates

IBPS PO 2026 Schedule

• Notification Release: June–July 2026

• Online Registration Period: July–August 2026 (tentative 2-week window)

• Preliminary Examination: August–September 2026 (multiple slots)

• Prelims Result: October 2026

• Mains Examination: October–November 2026

• Mains Result: December 2026

• Interview Call Letters: January 2027

• Interview Period: January–February 2027

• Provisional Allotment: April 2027

IBPS Clerk 2026 Schedule

• Notification Release: August 2026

• Online Registration: September 2026

• Preliminary Examination: September–October 2026

• Mains Examination: November–December 2026

• Provisional Allotment: March 2027

IBPS RRB 2026 Schedule

• Notification Release: June 2026

• Online Registration: June–July 2026

• Preliminary Examination: August 2026

• Mains Examination: September–October 2026

• Interview (for Officers): November 2026

• Provisional Allotment: January 2027

IBPS SO 2026 Schedule

• Notification Release: October–November 2026

• Online Registration: November–December 2026

• Preliminary Examination: December 2026

• Mains Examination: January 2027

• Interview: February 2027

• Provisional Allotment: May 2027

How to Apply

Step-by-Step Application Process for IBPS Recruitment 2026

Step 1: Visit Official Website
Navigate to the official IBPS portal at ibps.in. Look for the "CRP PO/MT-XVI 2026" or relevant recruitment link on the homepage.

Step 2: Read Detailed Notification
Download and carefully read the complete official notification PDF. Verify eligibility criteria, important dates, and post-specific requirements before proceeding.

Step 3: New Registration
Click on "New Registration" link. Enter basic details including name, contact number, email ID, and security code. A provisional registration number and password will be generated and sent to your registered email and mobile number.

Step 4: Fill Application Form
Log in using credentials and complete the detailed application form:

• Personal information (name, date of birth, gender, category)

• Educational qualifications (marks, year of passing, university details)

• Work experience (if any)

• Preference of banks and states

• Language proficiency details

Step 5: Upload Documents
Upload scanned copies of:

• Recent passport-size photograph (4.5cm × 3.5cm, 20–50 KB, JPG/JPEG format)

• Signature (black ink on white paper, 10–20 KB, JPG/JPEG format)

• Left thumb impression (if required)

• Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PWD) in PDF format

• Ensure all documents meet specified size and format requirements

Step 6: Application Fee Payment
Pay the application fee through online mode:

• General/OBC/EWS: ₹850 (application fee + intimation charges)

• SC/ST/PWD: ₹175 (intimation charges only)
  Payment modes: Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, UPI, or other digital payment methods.

Step 7: Final Submission
Review all entered details carefully. Submit the application form after verifying accuracy. No changes are permitted after final submission.

Step 8: Print Application Form
Download and print the completed application form for future reference. Preserve the registration number and password for downloading admit cards and checking results.

Important Note: Candidates are advised to apply early to avoid last-minute server congestion. Keep all documents ready before starting the application process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: When will the IBPS PO 2026 notification be released?
The IBPS PO 2026 notification is expected to be released in June–July 2026. Candidates should regularly check the official IBPS website (ibps.in) for the latest updates and official announcements regarding exact dates.

Q2: What is the expected number of vacancies for IBPS Recruitment 2026?
The IBPS PO 2026 recruitment alone is expected to announce approximately 5,000+ vacancies for Probationary Officer positions across 11 public sector banks. Vacancies for Clerk, RRB, and SO positions will be announced separately in their respective notifications.

Q3: Can final-year students apply for IBPS PO 2026 and other posts?
Final-year students can apply provisionally provided they can produce proof of passing the graduation examination on or before the date specified in the official notification. The degree must be from a university recognized by the Government of India.

Q4: Is there any negative marking in IBPS exams?
Yes, there is negative